Introduction to Dr. Kim Han-gyeol of Smile View Dental Clinic & Treatment Philosophy (Veneers near Sinnonhyeon Station, Gangnam-gu, Seoul)

Introduction to Dr. Kim Han-gyeol of Smile View Dental Clinic & Treatment Philosophy (Veneers near Sinnonhyeon Station, Gangnam-gu, Seoul)

Hello, I am Kim Han-gyeol, the director of Smile View Dental Clinic.

If you have opened this post, you may have been thinking something like this:

'What kind of person is the director here?'

'Can I trust this clinic with my front teeth?'

You may have opened and closed your mouth several times in front of the mirror, opened a search window, read reviews, and then closed the window again.

I think I understand how you feel in that moment of hesitation.

I was also someone who was afraid to lie back in a dental chair.

This is a long post, but I would appreciate it if you could take a moment to hear my story.

A child fascinated by the mystery of the human body

When I was young, I was a student with many things I wanted to do and become.

I did not have a clear plan, but I carried one vague hope in a corner of my heart.

I wanted to do work that could help someone.

At the same time, I had long been fascinated by the human body as a mysterious world.

I wondered how such complex parts could fit together and work as one.

The profession of being a doctor stood at the intersection of those two interests.

There was also a reason I eventually narrowed my focus to dentistry.

The temporomandibular joint, orthodontics, veneers, prosthodontics, and root canal treatment.

I found it fascinating that things which appear to belong to separate fields are actually interconnected and influence one another within a single system.

In addition, dentistry appealed to me because it involved making something with my hands and being able to see the result with my own eyes.

My teeth are a “general hospital of dentistry.”

There is something I would like to share honestly.

My teeth are prone to decay, to the point that it would be faster to count the teeth that have not received treatment.

I have undergone root canal treatment, and I have also rushed to a clinic because of painful wisdom teeth.

There was even a period when I struggled with problems involving my temporomandibular joint.

As a joke, I call the condition of my mouth a “general hospital of dentistry.”

When I was in elementary school, I fell and broke a front tooth.

I was bleeding and frightened, but the neighborhood dentist bent down to meet my eyes and explained, step by step, what would happen next.

Strangely, hearing that explanation made me feel at ease. The pain had not disappeared, but I was less afraid.

I still remember the relief I felt at that moment.

I know from personal experience that dental treatment may seem like no big deal to some people, while it can feel like a major source of fear to others.

That is why I try not to spare time for explanations in the treatment room.

I believe helping someone feel less afraid is also part of treatment.

I wanted to understand the underlying principles.

The subjects that were difficult for me during my school years were the ones that required memorization.

Because I was not good at memorizing, I would even search through parts of the textbook outside the exam range to find out “why” things were the way they were.

Looking back, it was an inefficient way to study, but the things I understood in that way have remained in my mind to this day.

That habit remains the same in the treatment room.

I pursued a master's degree in orthodontics because I wanted to understand occlusion, and I began a doctoral program in oral medicine because I wanted to understand the temporomandibular joint. I am currently taking a temporary break from the program.

As I considered aesthetics while practicing orthodontics, I became interested in veneers. As I cared for the painful teeth around me, cavity treatment naturally became another area of my practice.

When I look for common principles among symptoms that appear unrelated, I sometimes find a clue to problems that had seemed difficult to solve.

Rather than viewing each field of dentistry separately, I connect them as one. That is how I approach treatment.

I have been a dentist for 16 years and have operated my current clinic for 8 years.

Because techniques continue to change, I am still learning as well.

Finding a smile that suits the face

Through continuing to provide orthodontic treatment, I have come to understand something.

Everyone has different standards for what they find beautiful, and everyone wants a different degree of change.

Looking at the same front teeth, one person may say, “I wish they were a little longer,” while another may say, “They are just right as they are.”

I have spent a long time thinking about what kind of smile would suit each person's face.

Orthodontic treatment generally takes a long time.

Veneers, on the other hand, are a way to change the impression of the front teeth in a relatively short period.

However, I do not look only at the teeth before creating veneers.

I consider the overall atmosphere of the face, the gum line visible when smiling, and the current position and condition of the teeth before I can determine what shape will suit the person.

That is why treatments related to aesthetics, such as veneers and teeth whitening, involve longer conversations.

It is necessary to first hear the style you want, then add my opinion and work together to reach an appropriate plan.

Of course, I also explain that results and progress may vary depending on each individual's condition, and that discomfort such as sensitivity or gum irritation may occur.

I do not believe a consultation that shares only the good news is a real consultation.

I follow principles while adapting them to each person.

There are principles that must be followed when providing orthodontic treatment, veneers, or cavity fillings.

I follow those principles as closely as possible.

At the same time, I apply variables flexibly according to the condition of the teeth and the circumstances of the person who will live with and use those teeth.

If you put principles first, the person disappears; if you look only at the person, the basis for treatment becomes unclear.

Providing treatment that can be logically understood and accepted somewhere between those two extremes is the standard I hold on to.

Whenever I meet people who feel distrustful about dental treatment estimates, it weighs heavily on my mind.

That is why I do not work on all the teeth at once, including teeth that are not urgent.

I set priorities, make a plan starting with the areas that need attention right away, and tell patients that areas which can be monitored over time can be observed for now.

I generally tell people when something does not need to be done.

Sometimes patients say they do not even know which tooth is hurting.

In that case, I do not rush. I follow the diagnostic process step by step to identify the cause.

There is nothing more dangerous than treating something without knowing its cause.

Four words that describe me

If you asked people who know me to choose words that describe me, these four would probably come up.

Honesty, positivity, empathy, and logic.

Honesty means distinguishing between necessary and unnecessary treatment and explaining that distinction. Positivity means having the willingness to find a direction together, even when the current condition is not good.

Empathy is an ear that does not dismiss the discomfort a patient feels, and logic is the step-by-step process of following that discomfort back to its cause.

I know these words may sound grand.

However, I believe that whether a doctor sits in the treatment room with this mindset or without it changes the temperature of the chair in which the patient sits.

It is perfectly fine to visit only if you feel you can trust me.

Choosing a clinic by looking at reviews and its reputation is a good approach.

I recommend adding one more question.

“Before treatment, does the director personally examine and explain my condition?”

To me, it is only natural that the person performing a procedure should also be involved in the diagnosis, but surprisingly, this is a question I am often asked.

Creating a treatment plan suited to each individual takes time.

I hope you will check whether a clinic is willing to invest that time.

I examine the teeth of the person sitting in front of me with the mindset that I am looking at the teeth of a member of my own family.

I do not want to bring you here with flashy words.

It is more than enough for me if only those who feel reassured and trust me after reading this post choose to visit.

For those whose hands instinctively rise to cover their mouths when they smile because of their front teeth, those who have been postponing dental treatment for years because they are afraid of the dentist, and those who felt at a loss after receiving an estimate and not knowing whom to ask.

I hope this post offers a small measure of reassurance to you.

Thank you for taking the time to read this long post.

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Smile View Dental Clinic near Sinnonhyeon Station
Monday–Wednesday, Friday (10:00–18:30); Saturday (10:00–15:00) ​ * Closed Thursdays, Sundays, and public holidays
TEL : 0507-1398-7529

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